Aymeric Laporte has officially joined Athletic Club from the Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, following a significant turn of events that saw FIFA reverse its earlier decision and approve the transfer. This development comes as a relief to both the player and the club, who have been keen on reuniting since the transfer window opened.
At 31 years old, Laporte was on the verge of completing his move to Athletic Club on September 1. However, complications arose when the transfer couldn’t be finalized before the deadline. Reports surfaced indicating that the cause of the setback was Al-Nassr’s failure to provide the necessary documentation in a timely manner. This debacle left Athletic Club in limbo, leading them to seek intervention from FIFA.
On September 3, Athletic Club appealed to FIFA, hoping for an exception that would allow them to finalize the transfer despite the missed deadline. Initially, their request was denied, but in a surprising turnaround, FIFA announced on Thursday that they had reconsidered. This change in decision opened the doors for Spanish international Laporte to officially sign a three-year contract with Athletic Club.
In an official statement on their website, Athletic Club confirmed FIFA’s decision, stating: “Athletic Club can confirm that FIFA has authorised the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to obtain an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.” This document is critical as it allows players to register with their new clubs and participate in competitions. The anticipation grew as the club noted that once the ITC was issued, Laporte would be able to register with Athletic Club and subsequently don their colors once again.
Laporte’s transfer is particularly emotional for him, marking a dream return to a club where he began his professional journey. He developed through Athletic’s youth academy, making his first-team debut in 2012. Over the years, he became a central figure in the team, making a total of 222 appearances and scoring 10 goals. His journey then took him to Manchester City in 2018, where he enjoyed unprecedented success, lifting 13 major trophies under the management of Pep Guardiola before moving to Al-Nassr in 2023.
As the excitement builds in Bilbao, Laporte could make his long-awaited return to La Liga when Athletic faces Alaves on Saturday. Following that match, they will kick off their Champions League campaign against Arsenal at the iconic San Mames stadium on September 16. Fans and players alike are looking forward to seeing Laporte back in action, contributing to a team that has always held a special place in his heart.
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